The 11 Best Day Trips from Lisbon

There are many pretty towns and villages in Portugal, but none quite like Sintra. Once the designated holiday resort for Portuguese royals and aristocrats, the small town is filled with palaces and estates that will make you feel as if you are living a fantasy, free to stroll the once private gardens surrounding the rich manors, now open to everyone. Aside from treats for the eyes, the city is also known for its customary pastry, which you can try at any typical cafe in the city centre, with a side of local friendliness. Right next to the town, there is Cabo da Roca. The immense cliffs that were once the terror of Portuguese sailors and are now the delight of worldwide travellers due to incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean. There are many ways to visit Sintra, but, since there is so much to see and so little time, the best option is to go on a tour with experts who make sure that nothing is missed.

The Serra da Arrabida is just an hour away from Lisbon and a world apart from the capital. Separating land from ocean, this mountain range is a popular hiking spot, with incredible views, especially if you make it to the peak. More adventurous souls may opt to climb the mountain, with several routes on offer to tackle with local experts. They take care of the equipment and the pick-up, so you can focus on getting to the top.

Adding to its natural beauty, the Arrábida mountain range is surrounded by vineyards and delightful little towns, all deserving of a visit (and a taste). The pretty fishing village of Sesimbra has a long beachfront where local restaurants prepare the fresh catch of the day. Nearby Azeitão is known for its strong-flavoured creamy cheese and long-established wineries. Try not to eat too much so you can enjoy a swim afterwards at the stunning Portinho da Arrábida beach.

In 1666, a brave regiment of 20 Portuguese soldiers brought an entire Spanish fleet to a standstill. This story is captivating enough without the deserted island backdrop where it took place. For many centuries, only 15km from the mainland, the Fort of São João Baptista, on its own in the Berlengas Islands, withstood assaults from pirates and privateers. Nowadays, the small archipelago, rich in marine life and shipwrecks, is a popular destination for snorkelling and diving. The main island – the only one habitable – has one beach, one restaurant, a few residents and many seagulls, making it the perfect place in Portugal for a Robinson Crusoe-style holiday. Or you can book a day tour from Lisbon – all you need to do is pack your swimmers and keep a close eye out for pirates.

The beaches dotting the Arrábida shore are a popular destination in the summer months, making it a parking hell for incautious drivers due to its narrow-ridge roads. That’s why visiting by sea is a much better idea. Alongside access to the beautiful small beaches popular with locals, this divine coastline also has caves and secluded beaches that can only be reached by boat, begging for exploration. There are kayaks for rent at Figueirinha Beac.

If you haven’t visited Porto and aren’t planning on making it a holiday destination in the near future, then you might want to consider taking a day trip from Lisbon. Although most of its fame comes from its port wine, Portugal’s second-largest city’s charms go well beyond its historic wine cellars. A stopover for wine tasting is de rigueur, but so is taking a stroll along the Douro River, for the spectacular views, and the Avenida dos Aliados (Aliados Avenue), for the architectural treats of the Trindade Church and the São Bento Station. Also not to be missed is the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art, one of the most important contemporary art museums in Portugal, located on the magnificent Serralves Estate. There are daily flights and regular trains from Lisbon to Porto, but, to make the most of your day, travelling with a guide might be the best option.

The Arouca Geopark, recognised by Unesco as Heritage of Humanity, is an untouched natural haven offering sanctuary to many endangered species such as the Iberian wolf. Running through it is the best preserved river in Portugal, the Paiva River, known for its clean and wild waters. To make it accessible to visitors, and to help with conservation efforts, an 8km (5mi)-long suspended wooden walkway was built along the river, allowing for a delightful hike encompassed by spectacular landscapes. Even though any time is a good time to visit, the summer months are better for enjoying the three river beaches that the walkway gives access to. The easiest way to get to the Paiva Walkways is by booking a tour – they’ll pick you up at your Lisbon hotel, drop you at the starting point and wait while you marvel at nature.

The Knights Templar – the warrior monks in white mantles with a red cross – were famous in the ancient world for their crucial role in the Crusades. Wrapped in mystery, the order’s secrets spawned tales and legends that survived through the ages, unlike the order itself. It was extinguished by the pope in the 14th century, everywhere in the world except in Portugal. The Portuguese king chose to protect the Templars and give them refuge, changing their name to Order of the Christ. The Templars mark in Portugal is mostly felt in the city of Tomar, the order’s Iberian capital, founded by their grandmaster in 1160. Its main monument is the Convent of Christ, a Unesco World Heritage site and one of the country’s most beautiful monuments, set inside the city’s heavily fortified castle where you can get a glimpse of how the monks lived and experience the order’s mystique. The best way to get here from Lisbon is by renting a car, or, better yet, by booking a tour – that way you’ll get to visit with a knowledgeable guide.

When you get your first glimpse of Palácio da Pena, perched atop the rocky peaks of Sintra Mountain, you might be tempted to think that the King Consort Ferdinand II and his wife Queen Maria II of Portugal took inspiration from Disney fairytales, but it was actually more likely to be the other way around. The colourful castle, with German Romantic architecture and Moorish-Manueline designed interiors, is an Instagrammer’s dream location, full of photo opportunities. The palace is no secret to tourists, so make sure to go early in the morning to experience it as the royals once did. The morning light is also perfect for exploring the palace’s gardens, deepening the romantic feel enveloping the estate. There are many tours that’ll take you from Lisbon to the palace, but this one will get you there before everyone else. Be sure to book early as they only take small groups.

The city of Óbidos, famous for its time-honoured customary beverage, the ginjinha (a typical Portuguese cherry-flavoured liqueur), is a small medieval town, surrounded by the castle walls that once protected it from invading armies. It stands as if frozen in time, with narrow, cobbled streets twirling along ancient housings, making it obvious why it hosts the country’s most famous medieval festival. Not far from it, there is Fátima, the pilgrimage site known for being a miracle site. The city’s main attraction is the recently renovated sanctuary, marking the occasion (just a few decades ago) when the town inhabitants watched the sun dance in the sky – a miracle recognised by the Vatican. If you plan it right, a day should be enough to visit these two delightful towns. Try booking a tour, so as not to lose time in transfers and get the most out of a day away from Lisbon.

For a small country, Portugal has many denominated wine regions – 13 in total, a clear sign of its dedication to this fine drink. Two of these regions neighbour Lisbon, making them an interesting day trip for those wishing to know (and taste) more of the good stuff. The closest one is the Setúbal Peninsula; aside from the winemaking estates, this region is also home to castles, historic fortresses, shrines and monasteries, making for a rich cultural voyage. A bit further east you reach the much bigger Alentejo region, its name meaning “beyond the Tagus River”. With vast fields where the cattle run free, it hosts a much bigger number of towns and villages; some of them deserted, all of them with a strong wine culture. Alentejo is also known for hearty meals that will warm your soul, so plan your day to enjoy lunch in one of its villages. You can schedule your trip by booking directly with vineyards, wine cellars and restaurants – or, if you’d rather be guided by the locals; book a tour that’ll do it for you.